Sharks’ European trip won’t be happening — plus notes and quotes from 4-2 win over Oilers

Off today so I won’t be at the morning skate, but I did want to sneak in a quick posting before getting on with the the day’s challenges — laundry, groceries, trip to the dog wash.

In case you missed it in the print edition, the Sharks will NOT be opening next season in Europe. There was another report circulating Tuesday in Germany that San Jose and Calgary would be playing in Berlin next October, but when I checked it out last night, a Sharks spokesman said that won’t be happening, and after checking further, was able to pass along word that Europe was no longer in the picture for 2009.

The team had confirmed earlier this month that it was talking with the NHL about a couple games across the pond, so something was in the works. Just not anymore. Will try to find out what went wrong at some point.

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Beyond that, some bonus coverage from last night’s post-game reporting that I wanted to pass along. Coach Todd McLellan was happy with the overall performance as well as the specific play of a few players, for example.

Like his vote of confidence in his goaltender, who had experienced a couple rough outings: “Nabby was solid from minute one all the way through. It was really good to see.”

Like his support for Joe Pavelski when asked why he seemed to be a magnet for Edmonton aggressiveness all night: “He goes to the hard areas. There’s a lot of people who turn away early and get out of there. Joe plays in that area and that’s why he’s rewarded with goals and assists. He’s got a lot of courage and he knows where he’s got to go for production.”

Like his praise for Claude Lemieux, who earned his first penalty minutes as a Shark after 12 games: “He’s played hard every game he’s been here. He’s sacrificed his body, whether it was on the forecheck, or tonight, he sacrificed it a different way. He got involved in a scrum and it escalated from there. I think it’s a good sign for us. He’s passionate about being here and that showed tonight.”

*******Pavelski did have a strong game overall and here’s his explanation as to why things got more than a little chippy:

“This is their third game in four nights. They’re a desperate team and they wanted to establish a hard game as well as us in our first game back. … It was a battle out there. The season’s winding down a little bit and every two points are crucial and we wanted to get back in the win column.

And how the Sharks didn’t let Edmonton’s second goal, the one that took the bizarre bounce, bother them:

“We can’t control that. That’s a bad bounce, as bad as it’s going to get out there. There wasn’t any panic. It was something that’s going to happen. Sometimes you’re on the other end of it and it gives you a little momentum, but we stayed focused.”

*******Lemieux provided what has to be the top quote of the year so far — “He beat up an old man. That’s not much for his resume” — and that was in the print edition, but here’s what else Lemieux had to say about the game and his role in it:

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“There wasn’t much emotion in our game at all and we needed something going. You got the group motivated to be a little more physical and that’s what we needed. . . . It’s not about fighting. It’s about being physical, it’s about being intense. And it’s got to start somewhere.

“Things you learn over time, being a veteran player, you learn when you need a little injection of emotion in the game and tonight was good.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

The names you people throw out in possible trades for Cheechoo, makes it real obvious how highly you all think of him. 😉

Ivano

In Montreal they’re talking about getting rid of Kovalev for nothing, they’re so tired of him. If his value is low, why not trade him for Cheech?

Johnny San Jose

I like Kovy. Not sure it’ll happen. I think a mix of old/young playoff talent is beneficial. An all young/all verteran team won’t work. The one thing with our older bretheren is the injury factor so we’ll need to be solid with reserves if the Woosta kids are needed. My point… don’t trade away our farm guys.

Tano

GP, i’d take the trade in a heartbeat. But I just don’t think that:

– Gainey is going to let Kovalev go as of yet
– Kovalev would want to come West. I don’t recall if in his career he played for any western teams, I am sure you know this.

For those of you who think that because we have an opinion about Cheechoo’s long term future with the Sharks we don’t like him….

Hockey is entertainment and of course a business. In business you are paid to make hard decisions to have a successful offering and plenty of customers who want to buy your product.
As some people quoted before, Cheechoo did great things for the Sharks, but at the moment it does look like his high salary, and his performance (even if he is playing pretty well at the moment) are in the best interest to the team, compared to other people in the market.

One of the questions we should ask ourselves is:
Would you trade Cheechoo if it means bringing the cup to SJ this season? or would you keep Cheechoo and would be ok to have the cup in the future?
Of course there are no certainties in any of this, but as a GM I am sure DW needs to think about these things, and not just about one player in the roster….

This is just an opinion, like everything else in this blog, we are here to express our opinions, however right or wrong they may be…in your opinion…..

Dave Comstock

David, I believe it was mentioned on last Saturday’s Hockey Night In Canada broadcast that the number of teams scheduled to open next season in Europe had been reduced from 6 to 4 for some reason.

They didn’t say which two teams had been dropped, so your info fills in that gap (I’m assuming that the other 4 teams and venues in earlier rumors haven’t changed).

Ivano

Tano –

He’s only played for Rangers (twice), Penguins and Canadians. But that works to our advantage. If Gainey was to trade him, I bet he’d do it to the West. Alex is the kind of player who loves to come back and bite you in playoffs.

However, I also see him as part of the package for Lecavalier going to Tampa. If that happened, I won’t be surprised to see Kovalev head for KHL to finish his career there. He’s competitive enough that I don’t think he’d want to stay in Tampa for too long.

Matt215

Did anyone notice the Sharks presence on the comics page this week? Check out Pearls Before Swine (usually at the top of the second page of comics, but buried deep in the Thursday Eye section).

I can’t tell, though, if it’s a Thornton (#19) or Cheechoo (#14) jersey.

DP, can you and the comics editor track down the strip’s creator, Stephan Pastis? I think he lives in the East Bay. There might be enough there for an article, or at least a small feature. At the very least, could you find out whose jersey Rat is wearing?

SactoShark

What a coincidence… here’s an article on player dealing with trade rumors, featuring Rob Blake and Alexi Kovalev:

You guys know that there’s a salary cap in the NHL, right? The Sharks are up against it and haven’t accrued much space over the course of the season. Kovalev makes $1.5 million more than Cheechoo. St. Louis makes $2 million more. How exactly is that going to work?

I didn’t bother to look at the cap. It’s not as important towards the end of the season, and on top of that, they can package Cheechoo with some prospects, like Kaspar.

GP (goaliepuke)

Tano, #106, I haven’t said a word either way to Ivano’s trade idea. Not going to either. Was that a typo or how did you think I suggested the trade?

What I would say, Alex Kovalev’s rep, all around the league, could keep DW from attaining his talent. There have many talented players that both Lombardi and Wilson have had chances to attain, but they do their homework on a guys character. IMO, from the DW side, if he doesn’t like what he finds, a Kovi deal is done before it starts.

GP

GP (goaliepuke)

Old Dave,

LOL, what I was referring to was that Alex K has been “placed” on a leave of absence of sorts because of his lackluster, seemingly disinterested play as of late — basically since the ASG.

GP

SacramentoBen

Tano said:

“For those of you who think that because we have an opinion about Cheechoo’s long term future with the Sharks we don’t like him….”

I agree a 100%. I love Cheechoo and his effort. I also don’t believe he is a “3rd line player” but let’s face it, on this team he is. So why pay a guy 3 million a year to have limited 3rd line minutes? I don’t think the Sharks need any major peices but in order to do 2 small moves (which I think they could use) they would need some cap space. I love Cheechoo but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go. Remember guys, Clowe is gonna get a raise next year…..wouldn’t you rather see the Sharks paying him? Trading Cheech helps make that happen.

Just wondering….Do you guys think DW will re-sign Grier for next year?

Ivano

SacBen
Mitchell can do what Grier does at a lower salary, if he ever gets healthy. He’s also much younger. I don’t think there is a need to sign Grier unless of course he wins the Conn Smythe.

Hell, we can even resign Rismiller.

Tano

GP. you are right, it was Ivano who started the Kovalev trail…. just a brain lapse…one of many a day for me…but you learn to live with them..

SacBen, I am of the same opinion as Ivano on Grier. The only way I’d bring him back is for a lower salary, but that’s unlikely to happen.
I am sure DW, even with the loss of Grier and Blake’s salaries will have to work hard on keeping the right players and making sure the cap is not at it’s limit like this year, where he loses flexibility at trade times.

Ivano

Tano
Why are you assuming that for Blake this is a one-year only stint with the Sharks? The dude is our second best defenseman, and I think Vlasic is growing tremendously from playing on the same team with Blake. I think the old man is here to stay.

Besides, with market as it is, I don’t think he’ll be able to sell the house he bought from Rivet and will be forced to keep living in San Jose.

Sharkalchemy

The announcement of not going to Europe sounds like the Sharks are serious about this 2 to 3 year window with Mclellan. I think they threw up the trial balloon to see fan reaction and they backed out. I thought on this forum it was fairly 50/50 but the HF boards were definately against the idea.

There just seemed to be very little upside for the team in the long haul…anyway, ya can the cap be worked around to get guys like St. Louis or a Kovalev? I hear it can but I don’t really know…

i hear JR and Luko may be back tonight? Can’t wait to see the lines and would like to see Kaspar once more on the top line and Marleau on the 3rd. Makes you think could they possibly be showcasing Kaspar for trade?

SactoShark

If the Sharks are looking for a big forward that can score, then they need to get Nik Antropov. At 6′ 6″ he’d be a great guy to park in front of the next while Boyle, Blake, and Ehrhoff take shots from the point. He’s also from the same city as Nabby

I know the Leafs wanna deal him, and their GM, Brian Burke and new coach are certainly familiar with the DW and the Sharks players….

GP (goaliepuke)

On Grier, he’s 1.775M. He won’t command more than that. He’s good at what he does and gets paid for it. He doesn’t get paid to do what people complain about here anyway. It’d be nice if he had better hands, but, he doesn’t get paid to do that.

It’s thought the cap will be the same for next season and then drop the following 2 seasons. Most looking for a contract (job) next season won’t be getting more money than they should.

There are a couple Sharks, RFAs, that will get more money next season, Mitchell and Clowe. Torrey not as much, comparitively because of this season. He hasn’t had a chance to earn a larger longer term. It will mirror what happened with Clowe in my estimation. Clowe will get paid next season. But, he will be the exception league wide.

Grier, probably wants to stay, and the Sharks could probably afford him at the current salary.

Maybe Easy could comment on what contracts and caps might look like next season.

GP

GP (goaliepuke)

SactoShark, I’ve Nik play bit. He’s unimpressive and inconsistant, with a lot of skill. I’ve rarely seen him in front of the net. He’s not sound defensively and RW would probably want him gone too. Maybe our coach could do something with him, but I think he could be a project like Sutter thought Viktor Koslov was going to be. I’ve probably seen 10 or more Leaf games this season.